ASSESSING THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG GUESTHOUSES IN BATTICALOA DISTRICT

Abstract

The hotel industry is one of the biggest earners of revenue in Sri Lankas current economy' The increasing number of tourist arrivals increases the high amounts of energy and water consumption while generating higher amounts of waste. The hotel industry is considered as one of the high energy consumers and waste generators. To achieve sustainable growth in the hospitality industry it is want to adopt efficient waste management with their operations. This study is assessing the waste management practices among guesthouses in Batticaloa district. Hence, aims of this study to explore the nature of waste management practices among guesthouses, the determining factors and how its influencing waste management practices among guesthouses the possible benefits and challenges faced in implementing waste management practices among guesthouses and possible recommendations and suggestions for the waste management practices among guesthouses in statical district. To find out the adoption of waste mangier pru"it".s among the guesthouses the survey was carried out among 20 guesthouses in Batticaloa district who were interviewed using a semi-structured interview method. It is an inductive study where the qualitative approach was undertaken, 10 guesthouses in the Batticaloa region and 10 guesthouses in Kalkuda region. Because these two regions were tourism cites and most of the guesthouses are located in these 2 regirds. collected data were analyzed using NVivo 10 through thematic analysis. According to the findings' government influence availability of buy-back or recycling center, fulfilling needs' attract customers, self-intention, available of space and knowledge were the factors that influence the adoption of waste management practices amor€ guesthouses in Batticaloa district' At the same time, the researcher found the benefits as well as the ' challenges faced by guesthouses during the implementation of waste management practices' Finally, the researcher recommended some strategies and mechanisms for the policymakers to enhance the waste management practices among guesthouses in Batticaloa district.